Harrowing footage has captured the terrifying moment a chairlift suddenly collapsed at a remote mountain resort in Russia, sending several people plunging into the deep waters of a lake while others tumbled violently to the rocky ground below. 

The catastrophic incident left eight injured and another 13 clinging for their lives amid the rugged terrain of the Kabardino-Balkaria region in Nalchik, according to local reports. 

Emergency responders said decades of wear and tear of the cables, which were originally installed in 1968, are believed to be «the preliminary cause of the accident,» Russian news agency TASS said.

Surveillance video shows riders screaming as the chairs snapped without warning. Some of the 21 victims who were on the chairlift crashed into trees, while another video captured a tourist falling to the ground. 

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Reports say four people plunged into the 22-foot-deep waters of Lake Trek. Those who were left dangling from the collapsed chairlifts were eventually evacuated by emergency crews, according to TASS. 

Authorities reportedly launched a large-scale rescue operation to rush the wounded to nearby hospitals.  

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A person sitting in a field after a chairlift collapsed at a Russian mountain resort on Friday. (East2West)

Russia’s health ministry said they detected a spinal cord injury in one of the victims, TASS reported.

«One patient is in serious condition in an intensive care unit,» a regional health ministry spokesperson said.

No fatalities were recorded from the incident.

Surveillance footage captured the moment a chairlift collapsed and sent several passengers plummeting into the lake in Russia on Friday. (East2West)

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Authorities reportedly opened a criminal investigation into the incident to determine whether any laws or regulations were violated that contributed to the horrific crash. 

«During the investigation, all other versions will be considered,» emergency services said.

En los últimos años, una figura ha comenzado a poblar cafeterías, playas y coworkings en distintos rincones del mundo: la del nómada digital. Equipados con una computadora portátil y una conexión estable a internet, estos profesionales decidieron no limitar su vida laboral a una sola ciudad, sino convertir el mundo entero en su oficina.

Detrás de la imagen de libertad y flexibilidad que suele asociarse a este estilo de vida, existe un fenómeno social mucho más profundo. La llegada de nómadas digitales a pequeñas localidades, grandes ciudades y destinos turísticos no solo modifica la forma en que se entiende el trabajo, sino que también despierta nuevas dinámicas en las comunidades que los reciben.

Hoy, con unos 40 millones de nómadas digitales circulando por el planeta, se multiplican las historias de colaboración, innovación y revitalización que florecen allá donde pisan. Lejos de limitarse a ser simples “turistas extendidos”, muchos de estos trabajadores remotos generan impactos duraderos en los lugares que eligen para vivir temporalmente, favoreciendo el crecimiento económico, la integración cultural y un modelo de turismo más sostenible.

El auge de los nómadas digitales llevó a países como Costa Rica y Grecia a desarrollar visados especiales y beneficios fiscales. El objetivo consiste en captar a estos profesionales y aprovechar su potencial económico y social. Estas medidas buscaron integrar a los trabajadores remotos con las comunidades anfitrionas, logrando un intercambio que va más allá del aumento tradicional de visitantes.

A pesar de preocupaciones sobre la presión en los precios de la vivienda o el riesgo de desconexión cultural, según The Conversation, la presencia de nómadas digitales genera huellas positivas y duraderas. El artículo identifica cinco maneras concretas en las que su paso contribuyó al desarrollo de los destinos elegidos.

El intercambio de conocimientos, especialmente en tecnología, marketing y diseño, representa uno de los aportes principales. En zonas rurales de Portugal, un profesional de marketing digital ayudó a artesanos locales a comercializar productos en línea y desarrolladores web colaboraron con restaurantes para mejorar su presencia digital. En Eslovenia, estudiantes del Gimnasio Jurij Vega trabajaron junto a mentores nómadas en proyectos de turismo sostenible, lo que impulsó la innovación educativa y empresarial.

A diferencia de las imágenes idealizadas que predominan en redes sociales, muchos nómadas digitales compartieron relatos genuinos sobre la vida y la cultura local. En Madeira, Portugal, difundieron historias sobre la plantación de árboles con residentes y el apoyo a artesanos, usando blogs y pódcast. Este enfoque aporta una visión profunda y matizada del destino, fomenta el respeto intercultural y promueve el turismo regenerativo.

La difusión de estrategias y aprendizajes adquiridos durante sus viajes permitió a los nómadas digitales abordar desafíos sociales, ambientales y económicos junto a las comunidades. En Oliete, España, la revitalización del cultivo del olivo se realizó gracias a plataformas digitales y financiación cooperativa. En Tursi, Italia, profesionales remotos asesoraron a emprendedores y contribuyeron a la creación de espacios de coworking, favoreciendo la reconstrucción de economías locales.

La mentalidad cosmopolita y el turismo regenerativo representan otro eje de transformación. Al participar activamente en proyectos comunitarios, los nómadas digitales establecieron relaciones equilibradas con los habitantes locales. En Ubud, Bali, su participación contribuyó a preservar el patrimonio cultural y natural, lo que alentó el crecimiento económico, la preservación cultural y el respeto mutuo, valores esenciales para un turismo sostenible.

La creación de redes globales amplió el alcance de las iniciativas locales. Los nómadas digitales conectaron a artesanos y agricultores con plataformas internacionales de comercio justo y facilitaron el acceso a oportunidades de financiamiento. En Lisboa, Portugal, se formalizaron alianzas que vinculan productos locales con clientes internacionales, lo que demuestra cómo estas conexiones extienden los beneficios del turismo más allá de la simple visita.

A Jewish student at Columbia University is speaking out against New York City Democratic Socialist and mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, telling Fox News Digital a Mamdani victory would be «scary» for Jewish students at Columbia and across the city. 

TJ Katz, a sophomore at the Ivy League school, sat down with Fox to discuss how Mamdani leading New York City might impact Columbia and other universities, as the 33-year-old assemblyman and mayoral candidate leads the pack in the race.

«For my own beliefs and my own safety on campus, it’s scary,» Katz told Fox. «I think that as an individual serving as the mayor of New York, I don’t think he’ll, all of a sudden, turn this in a 180-degree direction where I’m going to be on the streets worried that my mayor is against me for who I am.»

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«What I’m far more worried about is if he takes such a weak approach in condemning hate, that will then inspire others to go on and do terrible things,» Katz added. 

Mamdani, a practicing Twelver Shia Muslim born in Kampala, Uganda, won an upset Democratic primary election in June, defeating former New York governor Andrew Cuomo among other candidates. 

As the race stands today, Cuomo, now running as an independent, and sitting Mayor Eric Adams will face off with Mamdani in the November election. 

New York City makes up the largest population of practicing Jews outside the nation of Israel. And Katz described Mamdani’s attitude toward the community as «definitely worrisome.»

Protest stickers were put on the doors at Butler Library at Columbia University’s campus on May 7, 2025, in New York City. Pro-Palestinian protesters held a demonstration inside the Butler Library on Columbia University’s campus, disrupting finals week. ( Indy Scholtens/Getty Images)

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«For him not to protect the Jewish population of New York, which makes up such a strong and vibrant element of the community here, it is upsetting and definitely worrisome,» Katz continued. 

Jewish students across the country and young Jewish voters have also shifted toward the Republican Party as candidates like Mamdani are endorsed by longstanding Democrat Senators like Elizabeth Warren. When a Fox News reporter asked if socialist candidates like Mamdani were the future of the Democrat Party, Warren replied «you bet.» 

In the 2024 election, President Donald Trump saw a drastic increase in Jewish voters swinging to the GOP. 

President Donald Trump is joined by Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Vice President JD Vance during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on February 4, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Jabin Botsford /The Washington Post via Getty Images)

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The Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC) recently hosted a national convention in Washington DC, which saw the largest collection of young pro-Israel voters this year. Hundreds of Jewish students from across the county flocked to nonpartisan event, voicing concerns about campus safety for Jews as we head into the upcoming school year. 

A senior advisor to the ICC spoke to Fox News Digital, saying that there is a clear shift toward pro-Israel, conservative beliefs as Trump mitigates a volatile war in the Middle East and negotiates deals with top universities to combat the rise of antisemitism. 

The ICC advisor also said students are more active than ever when it comes to standing up for pro-Israel beliefs on campus. 

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Katz agreed with the notion that pro-Israeli students are seemingly more outspoken on campus and said Jewish students take their beliefs into account when voting at the polls. 

President Donald Trump is pushing back on pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, including Columbia University.  (Getty Images)

«I think there’s no doubt from the most liberal young Jewish voter that exists all the way to the most conservative, that everyone sort of felt a little bit of this shift to the right,» Katz told Fox. 

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«If one administration versus another is going to actually put the proof in the pudding and show that they’re going to come out, they’re going to make sure that Jewish students on campuses, Jewish people in every aspect of their life feel safe, then that’s undoubtedly where the Jewish voters are going to shift towards,» Katz added.

Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani but did not receive a response in time for publication. 

Preston Mizell is a writer with Fox News Digital covering breaking news. Story tips can be sent to Preston.Mizell@fox.com and on X @MizellPreston